ThenAndNow: The Cycle Of Hate

Poland once had the largest Jewish population in Europe, with over three million Jews. By 1950, that number had been reduced to about 45,000. The Nazis perpetrated a genocide against the Jews, resulting in the systematic murder of six million people. They also targeted other groups, including the Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, Poles, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and men accused of homosexuality. These victims were subjected to mass shootings, poison gas, and death camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau and Treblinka.

The ghettos were another tool of Nazi cruelty. Jewish populations were forced into walled-off, unsanitary sections of cities like Warsaw and Łódź. Deprived of food, medical care, and basic necessities, hundreds of thousands died from starvation and disease.

Fast forward to 2024, and we see echoes of this past in the present conflict between Israel and Hamas. On October 7, after a deadly attack by Hamas fighters that killed 1,139 people and saw 240 taken captive, Israel launched a severe military offensive. The repercussions have been devastating for Gaza, where nearly 85 percent of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and more than 14,000 children have been killed. The death toll stands at 35,173, with women and children making up 72 percent of the victims.

The United Nations reports a child is killed or wounded every 10 minutes in Gaza. Additionally, 7,000 people are missing, many presumed dead under the rubble. Amidst this crisis, Israel's blockade has obstructed vital aid, exacerbating the suffering by limiting access to food, water, and medical supplies.

The haunting similarity between these events is a stark reminder: those who once suffered under the yoke of cruelty can become the perpetrators of similar horrors. The cyclical nature of hatred and violence perpetuates suffering

In remembering the past, we must strive to break this cycle, learning from history to build a future free from the shadows of war and hatred.